Slide barrel lever action rifle and the like



R. V. HIRSCH SLIDE BARREL LEVER ACTION RIFLE AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 8, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 r20 lg; W/ A 3 .x y- 3 i /////////////////////////////,z I; 2 44; ix. I y in! 5] I .5 2 o 25- 3 4a 4/ ;2 I I 45 49 3'J {5 2 RICHARD V. H/RSCH INVENTOR.

/0 n BY W FIG. /3 W May 18, 1965 R v. HlRscH 3,183,615

SLIDE BARREL LEVER ACTION RIFLE AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 8, 1963 s Sheets-Sheet 2 r 2 a ///fl///////////////?//4 //Q R IGHAR D V. H/RS'CH INVENTOR.

May 18, 1965 R. v. HIRSCH 3,183,615 SLIDE BARREL LEVER ACTION RIFLE AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 8, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG/5 RICHARD V. H/RSCH INVENTOR BY Wm United States Patent This invention relates to a new and novel rifle that is useful for accurately shooting at targets and for general fire arm purposes. It has a minimum number of moving parts and can be manufactured economically to accommodate cartridges of various calibers. The rifle is of light weight and has an adjustable stock so as to be suitable for people of various arm lengths.

One of the novel features of this invention is that the barrel and its associated parts move as a unit to provide the necessary action for ejecting and casting the fired cartridge casing and for alining the new cartridge with or to the firing chamber. This is a deviation from the old method which involved making clearance internally of the breech-block by a bolt movement to eject the fired cartridge casing and then a forward movement to substitute a new cartridge. In this invention, the barrel and its associated parts are shifted forwardly, after firing, by pulling a trigger guard lever downwardly to eject the fired casing and then placing a new cartridge in position ready to be shifted into the firing chamber when the trigger guard lever is returned to a full upward position. At time of firing, all the points about the firing chamber, rifle bore excepted, are tightly sealed against discharge of gases or back firing pressures into the working parts of the rifle.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to present a new type of rifle that is safe to use and cannot be fired accidentally when the safety lever is in position; one that is economical to make and manufacture and which is suitable for general fire-arm use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rifle that has an adjustable stock so as to comfortably adapt itself to various arm lengths.

Another object is to provide a rifle wherein the commonly known breech-block or bolt is absent and wherein the firing chamber is entirely within the barrel of the rifle and wherein sealing between the breech bore and breech face is accomplished so as to blow one hundred percent of all gases and/or smoke through the barrel and out the discharge muzzle of the gun.

Still another object is to provide means for lateral loading of the gun and wherein all parts are safely and neatly arranged to present an artistic and attractive fire arm.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon careful perusal of the specifications and the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a rifle which embodies the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the rifle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top horizontal sectional view along the center line of the breech area portion of the rifle, but shown on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view along one side of the rifle and at substantially the same portion of the rifle shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side vertical sectional view of the same portion of the rifle shown in FIG. 4 but with the trigger guard lever in a downward position and wherein various parts are shifted in accordance thereto;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 6--6 of FIG. 4;

3,183,615 Patented May 18, 1.9%5

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the receiver with parts in section, showing the support for the barrel;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of that shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view, much enlarged, taken substantially along the line 9-9 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, on a smaller scale, showing a portion of the invention;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of a portion of the gun stock with a part broken away;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of a portion of the barrel;

FIG. 13 is a right end elevational view of that shown in FIG. 12;

1FIG. 14 is a horizontal section of a portion of the barre FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 15-45 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a section taken along the line 1616 of that shown in FIG. 7.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rifle of this invention has the shoulder stock member 1 which is generally made of a good grade of fine grain wood and which is shaped for handling convenience. It is provided with the shoulder curved reenforcement element or butt plate 2, as shown. The shoulder stock is made in two rabbeted and/ or channelled parts or else in a single piece that is grooved to accommodate the elongated and extended tang member 3. This tang member has fixed to opposite sides thereof the pistol-like grips 4 and 5. The weapon is provided with a forearm 6 having a channelled cross-section and which is fixed to the barrel by a yoke or band means 7 and to the forward portion of the feed action block 12 by suitable means such as rivets, screws or even cement. This forearm is sized to accommodate one of the hands of the gunner. This portion of the gun is generally called the fore-end, but it may also be called the forearm. Numerals 8 and 9 indicate opposite sides of a receiver and it) is the cartridge loading port.

The rear portion of the tang is notched, serrated, or provided with notches along its top edge as shown at 3a. A latch having a stem-like member 3b is provided to hold the tang 3 and stock 1 in fixed relationship, but allows for adjustment of the stock by turning the slotted head of the stern means 30 by using a thin coin such as a dime. When this stem is released, the stock can be easily extended or retracted lengthwise by manually shifting it. The stock has a bore 3d to accommodate the head of the latch and a spring disc 32 which has been sprung to constantly urge the head of the latch upwardly. The stem end 3f of the latch is somewhat oval in plan View so that when its elongated axis is across the stock, the end 3 can be freed from 3a.

The tang 3 has a slot 3g along which slides the pivot pin 311 which is fixed to the stock. A pair of balls indicated at 31' and 3 within a cross bore of the pivot means are urged outwardly by a coiled spring 3k for the purpose of giving some resistance to the movement of the stock when freed by the latch means 3 The central receiver portion of the rifle has the feed action block 12. The receiver is channel-led longitudinally to admit the barrel. The inside assembly walls of the channel are provided with longitudinal grooves, note reference characters 12a and 12b, FIG. 9. The barrel is indicated at 11 and it has the grooves 11a and 11b which cooperate with the grooves 12a and 12b to accommodate the series of balls 18 and 19 and thus the barrel is secured to the receiver by these balls for easy rolling therealong. Various lever pins and linkage means also aid to secure the barrel to the receiver but they allow the barrel to be shifted. The top of the barrel has the rear and front sights indicated at 13 and 14 respectively. The hammer is shown at and the trigger at 16. Numeral 17 indicates the trigger guard which is a lever and designed to protect the trigger.

Attention is now directed to FIGS. 3 to 6 inclusive where details of the invention are better shown upon a larger scale.

The bore of the barrel 11 is shown at and this bore may be provided with spiral grooves, not shown, for aiding the accurate direction of the projectiles. The projectiles or cartridges are indicated by the letter x. A plurality of the cartridges are stored in the bore 21 of the magazine 22. The cartridge receiver has a floor plate 23which is shaped, as shown, and this plate is pivoted at 24. This plate has an elongated slotted floor portion 25 which has its lower portions within a groove or cartridge well 26 of the receiver or breach area of the feed action member,

see FIG. 6. A ball 27 is at each end of a cross bore and they are urged outwardly by'a coiled spring means within the cross bore and this provides some friction to the floor plate but nevertheless provides controlled and smooth operation thereof. These friction balls provide a hold at I extreme positions of the floor plate. One of the cartridges x has the base of its casing against a stop 28 of the floor plate. FIG. 5 shows how the cartridge is elevated into position for entrance into the bore of the barrel 1 1.

Just above the floor plate there is a casing 30 which houses the firing pin 31 and this pin has a short slot that accommodates the screw pin 32. The reduced portion or neck portion '33 is integral with the firing pin and the distal end of this neck is the actual striker to set-off the caps in the cartridges. This striker is returned to non-firing position by means of the spring '33. The numeral 11 indicates the ejector pin.

The 'string of ball bearings 18 and 19 are so arranged in their respective grooves or guides, that the barrel and its associated parts can be smoothly and easily rolled to and fro according to the workings of the trigger guard lever 17.

A shifting elementor cartridge control 40 is elongated and positioned just below the magazine and it is constantly urged rearwardly by the coiled spring 41. The rear end of this element 40 has a head portion with the notches orunder grooves 42 and 43 which engage the latching pin 44 when shifted to either of two positions. The notch 42. performs as a means for holding the-cartridge and notch 43 is a stop and an elevator means as it rides on pin 44. A safety catch 45 is pivoted at 46 and it has an end adapted to engage a stop or safe notch 47 on the hammer 15 and thus prevent the hammer from striking the firing pin if the hammer happens to be released, but however, safety catch 45 allows the hammer to operate within certain short limits for testing purposes. A dog pin 49 engages the safety catch 45 to rotate it as the link 49' swings downwardly. The arcing forward movement of safety catch 45 pushes the cartridge control forward and up as the groove 43 slides up on pin 44.

The trigger 16 has a flat spring 16' to return it to normal position. This spring works in a groove of the trigger guard. The trigger, when pulled, rotates the catch 50 so as to release the hammer 15, see FIG. 4. A catch element or'searSO is pivoted'at 51 and has a dog 52 to hold the trigger cocked until released by the triggers operation.

The cartridges in the magazine are urged rearwardly by a compression spring 55 which works against a slug 56 at one end of'the magazine and a closure plug 57 at the other end.

Operation: First, open the breech by lowering the lever or trigger guard. When the breech is full open, the magazine port is even with the loading port through the receiver means. One cartridge at a time may be inserted in the magazine if it is desired, but the magazine may be fully loaded by pushing additional cartridges through the port until loaded. The trigger guard lever is then returned. This closes the breech. The cartridge control 'meinber44has retreated fromits holding position at the loading port and a cartridge has been forced byspring pressure into the breech well and onto the floor plate 25. The slug in the magazine follows the single cartridge and in turn is stopped by the nose of the cartridge should a train of cartridges follow the firstone, but all would come to rest when the first cartridge stopped on the floor plate.

The cartridge is now ready to be lifted into the firing chamberportionof the barrel. This fioor plate risesinto the space between the breech face and the barrel and the cartridge is forced against the barrel hood, that is, the upper rear extension portion of the barrel. Entrancelof the cartridge into the bore of the barrel is accomplished by closing the breech. The floor plate retreated to the rear of the receiver at the same speed as the barrel breech closes the open space between it and the standing breech face. The cartridge assumes a nearly parallel attitude as the barrel breech approaches due to the upward holding and wiping pressure of the floor plate. As the nose of the cartridge enters the firing chamber, the floor plate has passed to the rear of the cartridge and holds it fully parallel with the bore so that the cartridge can enter the chamber with minimum sidescrape on the edge of the chamber. When the breech is almost closed, the floor plate descends to the breech well in order to stop the next cartridge which passes over the cartridge stop device.

The cartridge is now ready to fire. The hammer which does not cock except manually, may now be cocked to fire position, however, it cannot be tripped unless the lever is fully in place against the bottom of the receiver in that this position fully and tightly closes the breech and brings the trigger into position to trip the sear. The hammer will not fall to'the firing pinunless the safe lever has been set to a fire position. Thus, one must cock the hammer, cock safe lever and then fire the cartridge.

The firing chamber may now be emptied by depressing the trigger guard lever which opens the breech. The spent cartridge case is drawn out and held against'the standing breech by .a'hoo'k-over type of extractor. The extractor is firmly sprung in order that the case staysin position while the ejector pin strikes. The ejector pin .ismounted in the left side, oppositethe extractor, in the hood of the barrel. This pin is fixed on the center of a line extending from the center of the bore so as to strike the center of the periphery of the flange .on the cartridge case. The ejector comes in contact with the case an instant before the floor plate begins to rise with the next cartridge to be placed into the chamber.

Certain novel features and details of this invention are disclosed herein, and in some cases'in considerabledetail,

in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. It is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the exact-form and details disclosed since it is apparent that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and'scope ofthe claims.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed and held to be new isset out in the following claims:

I claim:

1. In a rifleandthe like, a stock including a shoulderpiece, a forearm means including a barrel, andan intermediate cartridge receiver means, the .barrel having a bore and mounted upon the receiver means in a manner that it can be rolled to and fro longitudinally of the rifle within certain predetermined limits, and lever. means for shifting the barrel forwardly .for rejection of the casing of a fired cartridge and for charginga new .cartridge into firing position upon rearward vmovement 'of the barrel, said stock having a plunger, a tang .extending rearwardly of the receiver means provided with a plurality of notches adapted to receive the plunger so that the rifle can be changed in length.

2. The rifle recited in claim 1 wherein thereceiver means has a plate on each side thereof with a bearing guide means along the top portion of eachplate, the barrel having guide means alongeach side thereof which are in alinement and parallel with the guide means of the plates, and ball hearings in the guide means so that the barrel can shift smoothly and evenly.

3. The rifle recited in claim 2 wherein a firing hammer is pivoted to the tang rearwardly of the barrel, a trigger pivoted to the stock below the hammer, an anvil means pivoted to the tang, means for shifting the anvil means to engage the hammer to prevent its full movement to firing position, and a catch means pivoted to the tang to prevent movement of the hammer when fully cocked.

4. The rifle recited in claim 2 wherein means are provided for shifting the barrel forwardly to provide a chamber within the receiver means of the rifle, slide means for shifting a cartridge one at a time into the chamber, a pivoted floor means in the chamber adapted to receive a cartridge when shifted thereon by said slide means, means for raising the floor means into alinement with the bore of the barrel, and means for forcing the cartridge into the bore of the rifle when the barrel is shifted toward the stock of the rifle.

5. The rifle recited in claim 4 wherein a lever guard is pivoted to the tang and having a portion surrounding the trigger, and wherein swinging of the lever guard down wardly forces the barrel forwardly to provide a chamber within the receiver means thereof and wherein returning the lever guard forces a cartridge into alinement with the bore of the barrel and then further movement thereof forces the cartridge into firing position within the bore.

6. The rifle recited in claim 5 wherein the upper rear portion of the barrel is provided with a guide, a sight 30 means slideable in the guide, and means for fastening the sight means to the guide.

7. A rifle and the like comprising a stock having a shoulder-piece, a forearm, and an intermediate cartridge receiver; the receiver containing a cartridge transfer area, firing pin, trigger and trigger guard in combination with other moving parts, a combination barrel and magazine unit mounted upon the receiver so that it can be shifted to and from to a limited extent, said trigger guard including a pivoted lever means which is coupled with the barrel and magazine unit so that when the lever means is swung into a downward position the barrel and magazine unit is moved forwardly in the receiver and when returned, the barrel and magazine unit is retracted to a normal firing position, a pivoted and slotted floor in the receiver which accommodates a cartridge shifter so that when a cartridge is forced onto the floor, the cartridge is elevated in position to be forced into the bore of the barrel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 150,102 4/74 Swingle et al. 4211 174,798 3/76 Gardner 42-11 460,533 9/91 Harrison 42-11 1,142,665 6/15 Burton 421 1,218,458 3/17 Polite 42-11 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,895 6/ 13 France.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

FRED C. MATTERN, 111., Examiner. 

1. IN A RIFLE AND THE LIKE, A STOCK INCLUDING A SHOULDERPIECE, A FOREARM MEANS INCLUDING A BARREL, AND AN INTERMEDIATE CARTRIDGE RECEIVER MEANS, THE BARREL HAVING A BORE AND MOUNTED UPON THE RECEIVER MEANS IN A MANNER THAT IT CAN BE ROLLED TO AND FRO LONGITUDINALLY OF THE RIFLE WITHIN CERTAIN PREDETERMINED LIMITS, AND LEVER MEANS FOR SHIFTING THE BARREL FORWARDLY FOR REJECTION OF THE CASING OF A FIRED CARTRIDGE AND FOR CHANGING A NEW CARTRIDGE INTO FIRING POSITION UPON REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BARREL, SAID STOCK HAVING A PLUNGER, A TANG EXTENDING REARWARDLY OF THE RECEIVER MEANS PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF NOTCHES ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE PLUNGER SO THAT THE RIFLE CAN BE CHANGED IN LENGTH. 